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RP Construction Services Now Offering Nextracker

Posted on by Bri Bruce

Nextracker

Monterey, CALIF. (February 7, 2023)—RP Construction Services (RPCS) is excited to announce it is now offering single-axis trackers from Nextracker, the trusted global market leader in solar tracking technologies. RPCS will be providing Nextracker products to address the growing U.S. demand for smaller utility-scale solar projects and distributed generation (DG) applications.

RPCS has completed thousands of smaller utility-scale and DG projects, which are typically under 30 megawatts in capacity, and is honored to partner with Nextracker to self-perform their design and stamped engineering with warehousing Nextracker’s NX Horizon™ smart solar trackers. Rapid, accurate, and reliable project designs and pricing are a must for developers who want to execute portfolios of small utility projects and the same is true for EPCs and contractors who can now receive RPCS’ site-specific, pre-kitted, and construction ready Nextracker systems. RPCS delivers design and schedule flexibility that today’s solar power generation industry demands.

“We put solar projects into motion with our full suite of solutions—from turnkey design, supply, and installation support to logistics, preassembly, and onsite training solutions—based on gigawatts’ worth of experience in the market,” says RPCS President Eben Russell. “We are thrilled to partner with Nextracker to offer their best-in-class technology, supported by our innovative project enablement capabilities, to provide an unrivaled degree of support and, ultimately, customer success. Our value-added approach combined with the Nextracker product will maximize every project’s potential and will result in the highest quality operating assets for our customers.”

Nextracker’s flagship platform, NX Horizon™, has been the tracker of choice on more than 90 GW-worth of solar power plants worldwide. This smart solar tracker system helps maximize performance and minimize costs across a broad range of project sites and weather conditions.

“In order to extend our world-class technology to smaller projects and respond to customer demand, we chose RPCS as our highly capable channel partner to address the continued growth in the smaller utility-scale and distributed generation markets,” said Howard Wenger, President at Nextracker. “RPCS’ value lies in its ability to stock, consolidate, and kit material, and provide high quality project execution and training on site—and we’re proud to work with them as a channel partner.”

This new partnership with Nextracker allows RPCS to continue to service its expanding customer base, providing expert services to accelerate and ensure the best value for tracker projects across the country.

 

 

About RP Construction Services

RP Construction Services, LLC (RPCS) is the nation’s leading value-added distributor of utility-scale solar equipment. RPCS offers the industry’s best solar tracker technologies supported by a suite of project enablement services including design engineering, warehousing and logistics, pre-assembly, and mechanical installation to provide solar EPCs, developers, and utilities with simple, high-performance solar tracking solutions. Since 2014, RPCS has delivered more than 4GW of fully engineered single-axis solar tracking systems to customer sites in more than 41 U.S. states and Canada. Our team currently consists of more than 200 individuals working throughout the United States to accelerate and simplify solar deployment. Connect with RPCS on LinkedIn or learn more at stgrpcs.wpengine.com. RPCS is a proud member of the Quanta Services family of companies.

 

About Nextracker

Nextracker is a leading provider of intelligent, integrated solar tracker and software solutions used in utility-scale and distributed generation solar projects around the world. Its products enable solar panels to follow the sun’s movement across the sky and optimize plant performance. With plants operating in more than thirty countries worldwide, Nextracker offers solar tracker technologies that increase energy production while reducing costs for significant plant ROI. For more information, visit Nextracker.

 

 

Media Contacts

Bri Bruce, RPCS
+1 8316202188
bbruce@rpcs.com

Kristan Kirsh, Nextracker
+1.650.814.1273
Kkirsh@nextracker.com

 

Quanta Services Named 2023 Top Solar Contractor by Solar Power World

Posted on by Bri Bruce

2023 top solar contractorQuanta Operating Companies Collaborate to Achieve Solar Industry Top Spot and Historic Milestone

HOUSTON – July 25, 2023 – Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE:PWR) announced today that it has been named the top solar infrastructure solutions provider in the United States by Solar Power World. This achievement was made possible by the collaborative work of three Quanta operating companies: Blattner Company, RP Construction Services (RPCS) and The Ryan Company. The combined expertise and efforts of the three companies installed more than two gigawatts of domestic solar generating capacity in 2022 alone – a new milestone of achievement in Top Solar Contractor history.

Duke Austin, Quanta Services’ President and Chief Executive Officer said, “Being named Top Solar Contractor is an honor and tells part of the bigger story of how we are working to build a brighter and cleaner energy future for the country. To achieve a reduced-carbon economy, we must actively collaborate to drive the shift toward renewable and sustainable energy solutions.”

Quanta’s renewable energy infrastructure solutions powers modern life, and with its more than 200 operating companies, Quanta is building, modernizing and maintaining energy infrastructure across North America and Australia. Powerhouse renewable energy engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) solutions provider, Blattner Company, was acquired by Quanta in 2021 and during its history has constructed more than 25 percent of the utility-scale renewable energy generating capacity in the United States. The Ryan Company provides EPC construction solutions for photovoltaic (PV) solar, wind and other renewable generation industries, as well as electrical infrastructure, substations and large-scale public sector construction services. RPCS is one of the nation’s leading value-added distributors of utility-scale solar equipment.

“We are incredibly honored to be part of Quanta’s standout solar team,” said Brett Beatty, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Blattner. “This award is a testament to the hard work, talent and dedication of our more than 4,000 employees working at our renewable energy project sites across the country. They are the reason we’re part of this top solar team. We applaud all of the solar contractors that made the list this year.”

“Renewable energy accounts for a quarter of U.S. electrical generation, now far exceeding electricity produced by burning coal,” said Kelsey Misbrener, managing editor of Solar Power World. “Solar power is an important member of that renewable makeup, and companies on the Top Solar Contractors List are all contributing to our country’s shift to cleaner electricity. We are honored to recognize them each year for their necessary work putting green kilowatts on roofs, over parking lots, in desert locations and across water reservoirs. Every project is making a difference.”

 

About Top Solar Contractors

The Top Solar Contractors List is the most recognized annual listing of solar contractors in the United States working in the utility, commercial, residential and community solar markets. Companies on the Top Solar Contractors List are grouped and listed by specific service (developer, electrical subcontractor, EPC, installation subcontractor, installer, sales partner), market (commercial, community solar, residential, utility) and states by 2022 installed capacity (in kWDC). See all the 2023 winners, including special company awards.

 

About Quanta Services

Quanta Services is a leading specialized contracting services company, delivering comprehensive infrastructure solutions for the utility, renewable energy, communications, pipeline and energy industries. Quanta’s comprehensive services include designing, installing, repairing and maintaining energy and communications infrastructure. With operations throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and select other international markets, Quanta has the manpower, resources and expertise to safely complete projects that are local, regional, national or international in scope. For more information, visit www.quantaservices.com.

 

About Blattner Company

Blattner is Leading America to a Clean Energy Future. With more than 115 years of construction experience, the company has played a vital role in building America’s critical infrastructure. Since 1997, Blattner has focused on renewable energy solutions and is responsible for some of the most significant solar, wind, and storage projects in the U.S. Blattner Company and its operating subsidiaries, Blattner Energy and D.H. Blattner & Sons, are all members of the Quanta Services family of companies. Blattner Company headquarters are in Avon, Minnesota.

 

About RPCS

RP Construction Services (RPCS) is a leading value-added distributor of utility-scale solar equipment. RPCS offers top solar tracker technologies supported by a suite of project enablement services including design engineering, warehousing and logistics, pre-assembly, and mechanical installation to provide solar EPCs and developers with simple, high-performance solar tracking solutions. Since 2014, RPCS has delivered more than 4GW of fully engineered single-axis solar tracking systems to customer sites in over 40 U.S. states and in Canada. Connect with RPCS on LinkedIn or learn more at stgrpcs.wpengine.com. RPCS is a proud member of the Quanta Services family of companies.

 

About The Ryan Company

Established in 1949, The Ryan Company, Inc. specializes in providing single service or turn-key EPC construction for PV solar, wind, and renewables, as well as industry leading electrical infrastructure, substations and large-scale public-sector construction services. The Ryan Company has completed hundreds of electrical utility projects in the past 60+ years throughout the United States and the Caribbean and is a member of the Quanta Services family of companies. Learn more at RyanCompany.net

 

About Solar Power World

Solar Power World is the leading online and print resource for news and information regarding solar installation, development and technology. Since 2011, Solar Power World has helped U.S. solar contractors — including installers, developers and EPCs in all markets — grow their businesses and do their jobs better.

 

Cautionary Statement About Forward-Looking Statements and Information

This press release (and oral statements regarding the subject matter of this press release) contains forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the “safe harbor” from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the development of and opportunities with respect to future projects, including renewable energy projects and other projects designed to support transition to a reduced-carbon economy, as well as statements reflecting expectations, intentions, assumptions or beliefs about future events, and other statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance; rather they involve or rely on a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict or are beyond our control and reflect management’s beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements are made. We caution you that actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted by our forward-looking statements and that any or all of our forward-looking statements may turn out to be inaccurate or incorrect. Forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions and by known or unknown risks and uncertainties including, among others, risks and uncertainties detailed in Quanta’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, Quanta’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 and any other documents that Quanta files with the SEC. For a discussion of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, investors are urged to refer to Quanta’s documents filed with the SEC that are available through Quanta’s website at www.quantaservices.com or through the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering and Analysis Retrieval System (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of this date. Quanta does not undertake and expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Quanta further expressly disclaims any written or oral statements made by any third party regarding the subject matter of this press release.

RP Construction Services Expands Distribution & Logistics Arm, Opens Kentucky Warehouse

Posted on by Bri Bruce

KentuckyLouisville, Ky. (June 23, 2023) — MDH Partners today announces the lease-up of Park 65 Business Center, a 260,000-square-foot distribution center located at 100 Brooks Way in Louisville, Kentucky. The firm originally purchased the facility in 2019 when it was 30% leased. RP Construction Services (RPCS) has leased the remaining 180,000 square feet. Robert Walker and Greg Charmoli with Cushman & Wakefield represented the Landlord.

“Park 65 Business Center had the largest existing vacancy of any of our assets in our Fund 1 portfolio,” said Raymond Hill, Vice President of Asset Management at MDH Partners. “We’re thrilled to have reached our goal of full occupancy as RCPS expands its distribution and logistics arm. We look forward to watching them grow to reach new heights of success.”

The new facility will accommodate RPCS’ growing selection of solar tracker inventory and allow the company to augment its single-axis tracker kitting and pre-assembly operations. Louisville’s proximity to suppliers and solar markets in the eastern United States will support RPCS’ continued ability to offer best-in-class lead times to its EPC and developer customers. RPCS’ Louisville facility begins operations this month.

“This larger space allows us to be more creative with our kitting solutions and stay ahead of the enormous demand that we see in our industry,” says Wesley Allen, Senior Director of Supply Chain and Logistics Execution (SCALE), RPCS’ division that oversees warehousing and distribution efforts. “As utility solar project pipelines continue to shift and grow, we are supporting our customers with a smarter, more flexible single-axis tracker design and procurement solution. Their success is our success.”

 

Read the full press release here: https://www.citybiz.co/article/433400/mdh-partners-completes-lease-up-of-louisville-kentucky-distribution-center/

 

About RP Construction Services

RP Construction Services, LLC (RPCS) is the nation’s leading value-added distributor of utility-scale solar equipment. RPCS offers the industry’s best solar tracker technologies supported by a suite of project enablement services including design engineering, warehousing & logistics, pre-assembly, and mechanical installation to provide solar EPCs & developers with simple, high-performance solar tracking solutions. Since 2014, RPCS has delivered more than 4GW of fully engineered single-axis solar tracking systems to customer sites in more than 41 U.S. states and Canada. Our team currently consists of more than 200 individuals working throughout the United States to accelerate and simplify solar deployment. Connect with RPCS on LinkedIn or learn more at stgrpcs.wpengine.com. RPCS is a proud member of the Quanta Services family of companies.

RP Construction Services Acquired by Quanta Services

Posted on by Bri Bruce

rpcs quanta servicesMonterey, CALIF. (April 13, 2023) — RP Construction Services, LLC (RPCS) is excited to announce that it has been acquired by Quanta Services, Inc. (Quanta), a Houston-based Fortune 300 company and industry leading specialized infrastructure solutions provider to the utility, renewable energy, communications, pipeline and energy industries. Now as part of Quanta, RPCS believes it can accelerate its growth and enhance its ability to continue serving the solar industry with best-in-class engineered equipment and support services. The transaction advances RPCS’ long-term strategy of delivering value to its customers, employees, and partners as well as the communities in which the company operates.

“We are extremely excited to join the Quanta family of companies and continue building upon our unique offering to the solar industry,” says Eben Russell, Founder and President of RPCS. “Our proven ability to remove complexity, time and risk from solar projects combined with Quanta’s leading infrastructure solutions, safety and performance culture will make us a better partner than ever for our employees, customers and vendors.”

The acquisition of RPCS strengthens Quanta’s existing infrastructure solutions platform that enables the transition towards a lower-carbon economy. “RPCS offers a unique approach to accelerating and de-risking utility-scale solar projects and we are excited to support their future innovation and growth as part of Quanta,” says Andrew Schwaitzberg, leader of energy transition initiatives at Quanta Services. “RPCS’s capabilities address some of the industry’s biggest challenges head on and they are a strategic complement to Quanta’s existing renewable solutions.”

As a Quanta operating company, RPCS will continue to rely on its fundamental passion for safety, service, ingenuity and human potential that has guided the company. These same values are captured by Quanta’s mission statement: People are at the core of everything we do. RPCS is thrilled to have such strong cultural alignment with its new parent company.

RPCS will operate independently under the Quanta umbrella and there will be no change in management or departmental structure, with Eben Russell continuing his role as President.

 

About RP Construction Services

RP Construction Services, LLC (RPCS) is the nation’s leading value-added distributor of utility-scale solar equipment. RPCS offers the industry’s best solar tracker technologies supported by a suite of project enablement services including design engineering, warehousing & logistics, pre-assembly, and mechanical installation to provide solar EPCs & developers with simple, high-performance solar tracking solutions. Since 2014, RPCS has delivered more than 4GW of fully engineered single-axis solar tracking systems to customer sites in more than 41 U.S. states and Canada. Our team currently consists of more than 200 individuals working throughout the United States to accelerate and simplify solar deployment. Connect with RPCS on LinkedIn or learn more at stgrpcs.wpengine.com. RPCS is a proud member of the Quanta Services family of companies.

About Quanta Services

Quanta Services, Inc. is a leading specialized contracting services company, delivering comprehensive infrastructure solutions for the utility, communications, pipeline and energy industries. Quanta’s comprehensive services include designing, installing, repairing and maintaining energy and communications infrastructure. With operations throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and select other international markets, Quanta has the manpower, resources and expertise to safely complete projects that are local, regional, national or international in scope. For more information, visit www.quantaservices.com.

2022 In Review

Posted on by Bri Bruce

What a year it’s been!

 

To say that 2022 was a prolific year would be an understatement. And just as in years past, this year has been RPCS’ best yet, with the numbers to prove it.

  • 1,297 MW Completed
  • 258 Projects
  • 31 States

In an industry continuing to see supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, price volatility, and tariff uncertainty—not to mention continued pandemic-related distresses—RPCS relied on strategy, namely the company’s unique ability to enable solar tracker projects through design engineering and logistics capabilities. Innovative, tech-enabled work practices persisted to give RPCS an excellent advantage over competitors and allow us to support customers in the design, engineering, and material supply scopes and at all stages of a project.

RPCS secured a steady standing among the nation’s leading design-build firms, earning the No. 27 spot in the Power market of the 2022 Top 400 Contractors survey list by Engineering News-Record (ENR) magazine, the company’s first year ranking on the list.

Solar Power World magazine recognized RPCS’ installation success by ranking the company at No. 11 overall on the 2022 Top Solar Contractors list. In addition to RPCS’ overall rank, the company also ranks No. 3 in the Installation Subcontractor category and No. 11 in the Utility Installation Contractor category, as well as No. 1 in Kansas, No. 2 in Illinois, No. 3 in New Mexico, and No. 6 in our home state of California.

We navigated and continue to chart the choppy waters of the ITC and IRA. Thanks to an unprecedented move from our current administration that provided a 24-month lift on duties related to solar imports, we marched on.

We continued to grow as a company while establishing additional locations to strengthen the foundations of sales and product management. We opened a new sales and marketing operations office in Tampa, Florida, and expanded our logistics capabilities by opening a new facility in Louisville, Kentucky, upping our capacity to kit projects and building on the total support we offer our customers and partners.

RPCS Announces East Coast Expansion with Florida Office

Posted on by Bri Bruce

RPCS Announces East Coast Expansion with Florida Office

 

[Monterey, CALIF.] December 21, 2022 — RP Construction Services Inc. (RPCS) announced this week the opening of a new office in Tampa, Florida.

This new office will be a hub for the company’s business development, marketing, and sales operations, with team members representing our data analytics, marketing, sales, software development, and customer success teams.

“We’re really excited about bringing our team into one location to move some of our more important customer-facing initiatives forward,” says Alex Smith, Chief Sales Officer. “There are several projects that we have been working on that will enhance our customer’s experience and allow RPCS to provide our partners with incredible insight into their project pipelines in various stages: development, estimating, engineering, pre-construction, and construction. Most of our customers deploy national portfolios and we are always improving the way we offer them visibility and predictability on their utility projects.”

The Tampa office plans to host a grand opening reception in the New Year.

 

About RP Construction Services

RP Construction Services, Inc. (RPCS) provides turnkey design, structural engineering, procurement/supply, mechanical installation, and specialty services to EPCs, developers, and utilities. As the nation’s leading contractor and single-axis tracker expert, RPCS helps customers meet their renewable energy goals with simple, seamless project execution. RPCS combines a team-oriented culture that values all employees with innovative, tech-enabled work practices to deliver projects of all sizes on-spec and on-time. RPCS has approximately 300 employees and is headquartered in Monterey, California, and maintains facilities in California, Mississippi, and Florida. Connect with RPCS on LinkedIn or learn more at stgrpcs.wpengine.com.

2021 in Review

Posted on by Bri Bruce

2021 has been a year of both successes and challenges… 

In a year plagued by supply chain disasters and continued pandemic woes, we have alleviated the pain otherwise felt by the rest of the industry through our unique approach to project solutions and our business practices that bring added value to our customers.

Through tremendous growth, diligence, dependability, strength, and determination we solidified our spot as the No. 10 solar contractor in the nation, among other top state rankings, secured a spot on the Inc. 5,000 list, and took home the Gold Medal as one of just four other companies on Inc. Magazine‘s Best in Business List in the Construction category.

We expanded our scope into Canada, continued to build lasting partnerships, and forged new ones along the way to allow meaningful work to continue the clean energy transition and create a better future for the planet.

Solar Hall of Fame Series: Interview with RPCS CEO Eben Russell

Posted on by Bri Bruce

Eb RussellSolar Hall of Fame Series

How RPCS CEO Eben Russell is Adapting to the COVID Pandemic

SolarFeeds Magazine

 

RP Construction Services CEO Eben Russell sat down with SolarFeeds Magazine as part of their Solar Hall of Fame series for an interview about how RPCS is fairing during the COVID pandemic.

RP Construction Services, Inc. (RPCS) provides turnkey design, structural engineering, procurement/supply, mechanical installation, and specialty services to EPCs, developers, and municipal utilities. As the nation’s leading contractor and single-axis tracker expert, RPCS has completed more than 700 projects, totaling over 2GW, and helps customers meet their renewable energy goals with simple, seamless project execution. Connect with RPCS on LinkedIn or learn more at stgrpcs.wpengine.com.

 

SF Magazine: First of all, how are you and your family doing in these COVID-19 times?  

Eb Russell: Thankfully, we haven’t contracted the virus. We have a 1-year-old and a 4-year-old.  It’s toughest on our 4-year-old daughter and on my wife. There’s only so much video conferencing one can do to fill the void. The 1-year-old requires constant attention as he is now walking and grabbing at everything which means my wife needs to play one-on-one defense while our 4-year-old, without the outlet of pre-school, continuously tries to reassert her original title as “one and only.”

Days are long and hectic. I made an office out of the company Ford Transit in the driveway.

 

SF Magazine: Tell us about you, your career, how you founded or joined this company

Russell: My first career, straight out of college, was as a financial advisor. It was 1995 and the World Wide Web was moving from a concept to mainstream. There were lots of high-flying start-ups. It was a transformative time; horses and buggies moving to automobiles.

History told us 2,000 car companies failed, 6 survived but they all bought tires from Goodyear Tire and rubber and tools from Ingersoll Rand. I had my clients avoid DoubleClick, AltaVista, Lycos and, instead, own the equipment makers Cisco, Juniper, Corning, Broadcom.

Entering solar in 2003, most startups were focused on residential installations, modules, inverters, development, and EPC. I looked for something boring, the solar mounting system, and decided single-axis trackers offered the most amount of metal or MWs per sale and there was no clear market leader.

In 2008, Array Technologies had 9 people and the iPhone. It was night and day, a better product. It still is. Over the next 6 years, I sold 2,500MWS into a 3,000MW total addressable market.

In 2015, market research showed that 1,000 projects would be built between 1MWand 10MW over the next 4 years, but it was clear that to capture meaningful market share, this market segment would need a turnkey provider: DIRECTV versus satellite dishes. RPCS was formed and we provided the DIRECTV-style offering to the sub 10MW market. It worked out. We managed to grab over 700 of the 1,000 projects.

 

SF Magazine: How does your company innovate?

Russell: We hire people, not positions. Great people continuously find new and innovative ways to optimize and improve.

 

SF Magazine: How does the coronavirus pandemic affect your business finances?

Russell: Thankfully, solar has remained strong. It’s fortunate that our projects are outdoors where safe, social distancing is relatively easy to maintain and our crew has taken the virus seriously, making sure to travel in pods and follow all CDC guidelines.

 

SF Magazine: Did you have to make difficult choices regarding human resources and what are the lessons learned?

Russell: The inside staff moved to virtual and we quickly mandated that all calls be video calls to maintain community and connectivity. We gave the field crew time and pay to travel to sites by car to avoid airline travel.

COVID has been hard on all. From a work performance perspective, it seems most impactful to those with young kids who are now at home helping assist in virtual learning versus dropping the kids off and going to work all day. We have tried to acknowledge this reality. We see emails and team chats flowing through at all hours of the day and even weekends and don’t worry about voids in work or availability during the weekday school hours.

 

SF Magazine: How did your customer relationship management evolve?

Russell: It’s better. Everything is on video now and personal lives are exposed. Dogs are barking, kids are interrupting, and we laugh at the predicaments we are in. No one is worried about neckties and polished shoes.

 

SF Magazine: Do you use any specific tools to be efficient?

Russell: Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

 

SF Magazine: Did you benefit from any government grants or any business adaptation that help keep your business afloat?

Russell: A year ago, at the onset of the pandemic, no one knew what would happen to the global or US economy, so we secured a PPP loan. Thankfully, we haven’t had to rely on the loan to survive, but it’s been nice knowing the funds are there just in case.

 

SF Magazine: How would you predict the solar outlook of the post-COVID era in your country?

Russell: US solar is rolling. It’s now the lowest cost of energy, the easiest to deploy, the least variable as far as future cost fluctuations, and able to be installed at or near the demand. The future (pun intended) is bright for solar.

 

SF Magazine: What do you think your government can do more to accelerate Solar’s adoption?

Russell: The industry has done well to secure incentives, manage through the tariffs, and remove regulatory hurdles. Upgrading and modernizing the nation’s grid to handle and manage all the new generation is critical. Incentives that support this grid transformation are essential.

 

SF Magazine: Your final thoughts?

Russell: The industry has such good energy. We see our competitors more as collaborators, working alongside us to push the adoption of clean solar energy forward.    #ComeBuildWithUs

 

See the original post here: https://mag.solarfeeds.com/how-eb-russell-is-adapting-to-the-covid-pandemic/

RPCS Ranks No. 13 on 2020 Top Solar Contractors List

Posted on by Bri Bruce

RPCS Ranks No. 13 on 2020 Top Solar Contractors List

MONTEREY, CALIF., July 21, 2020—Solar Power World released today the 2020 Top Solar Contractors list. The list recognizes California-based solar contractor RP Construction Services, Inc. (RPCS)’s installation efforts, and ranks the company at No. 13 overall, out of more than 400 solar firms. RPCS also ranks at No. 5 in the Installation Subcontractor category and No. 11 in the Utility Subcontractor category, as well as No. 1 in Arkansas, No. 5 in South Carolina, No. 7 in California, No. 8 in Colorado, No. 11 in North Carolina, among other top state rankings.

The Top Solar Contractors list is developed each year by Solar Power World to honor the work of solar installers big and small. Solar firms in the utility, commercial and residential markets are ranked by number of kilowatts installed in the previous year. Companies are grouped and listed by specific service (developers, electrical subcontractors, EPCs, installation subcontractors, rooftop installers), markets and states.

“The Solar Power World team is so pleased to highlight more than 400 companies on the 2020 Top Solar Contractors list, especially during this unprecedented time,” said Kelsey Misbrener, senior editor of Solar Power World. “All contractors featured on the 2020 list reported strong 2019 installation numbers and are continuing to stand tall this year.”

The first quarter of 2020 was the country’s biggest ever, with 3.6 GW of new solar capacity added. But COVID-19 impacts showed their force in Q2, and Wood Mackenzie is forecasting residential and non-residential markets will see 25% and 38% decreases in year-over-year installation volumes this year.

RPCS continues to persevere through this turbulent time in history, and is seeing its best year yet despite the solar industry’s facing unprecedented challenges amidst the global coronavirus pandemic.

“We know that so many industries, companies, and families are facing economic uncertainty in the US in 2020,” says RPCS Chief Sales Officer Alex Smith, “and we are so grateful for the opportunity to do solid work in a growing industry. We work harder every year because we have this great opportunity and we don’t take it for granted when so many others are struggling to hang on.”

Headquartered in Monterey, California, RPCS employs nearly 200 team members, providing leading design, supply, and installation services for utility-scale projects throughout the United States. RPCS is proud to continue their contribution to the country’s clean energy mix.

 

 

About RP Construction Services, Inc.
RPCS designs, supplies, and builds utility-scale ground mount solar projects. With more than 500 completed projects throughout the United States, RPCS provides full turnkey service and support, including site layout optimization, ancillary engineering services, tracker supply, foundation post procurement, and complete mechanical installation. As a trusted partner of leading solar tracker manufacturer Array Technologies, RPCS’s history, experience, and product knowledge provides customers with a trusted choice for seamless portfolio execution. 

About Solar Power World
Solar Power World is the leading online and print resource for news and information regarding solar installation, development and technology. Since 2011, SPW has helped U.S. solar contractors — including installers, developers and EPCs in all markets — grow their businesses and do their jobs better.

  

Media Contacts

RPCS
Bri Bruce, Director of Marketing
831-620-2188
bbruce[at]rpcs.com

Solar Power World
Kelly Pickerel, Editor in Chief
216-860-5259
kpickerel[at]wtwhmedia.com

RPCS, RECON Corporation Partner for Solar Tracker Projects in Illinois

Posted on by Bri Bruce

RPCS(Monterey, CALIF.)—RP Construction Services, Inc. (RPCS) and RECON Corporation announced earlier this week their partnership to build 8MWdc of solar tracker projects in Illinois this year.

RECON Corporation, a solar photovoltaic EPC contractor based in Michigan, will be building three ground mount solar tracker projects, utilizing the DuraTrack HZ v3 single-axis solar tracker from leading solar tracker manufacturer Array Technologies, Inc. The trackers will be supplied by RPCS, a trusted partner of Array and turnkey design, supply, and build subcontractor.

Array trackers keep the solar PV modules following the sun on its course throughout the day, optimizing energy gains and ensuring up to a 20 to 25% increase in energy production over fixed-tilt systems and further optimizing project returns.

“RECON has completed many projects with RPCS using Array DuraTrack HZ v3 single-axis solar trackers and is pleased to partner with them on these projects,” says Scott Walker, President of RECON Corporation. “RPCS and RECON work together well to design and build a quality final product that meets or exceeds the owner’s requirements and expectations.”

 

 

 

RP Construction Services, Inc. (RPCS) designs, supplies, and builds utility-scale ground mount solar projects. With more than 500 completed projects throughout the United States, RPCS provides full turnkey service and support, including site layout optimization, ancillary engineering services, tracker supply, foundation post procurement, and complete mechanical installation. As a trusted partner of leading solar tracker manufacturer Array Technologies, RPCS’s history, experience, and product knowledge provides customers with a trusted choice for seamless portfolio execution.

RECON Corporation is a solar contractor with the capability to provide EPC services for projects from start to finish. RECON is known in the industry as a capable and competent company that can handle difficult jobsites and working conditions while providing innovative solutions to any issues encountered. The majority of RECON’s current workload is EPC consisting of engineering, procurement and construction with in-house onsite supervision and some in-house mechanical installation. RECON Corporation has expanded dramatically in the last year. Growing from a few simultaneous projects to over a dozen currently in progress, RECON nearly doubled its annual installation rising from 27.655 MW in 2018 to 47.936 MW in 2019. RECON specializes in the installation of small to mid-range solar arrays (1-40MW) throughout the country.

RPCS Welcomes Mario Colecchia as Senior Structural Engineer

Posted on by Bri Bruce

mario colecchiaRP Construction Services, Inc. (RPCS) is pleased to welcome Mario Colecchia as Senior Structural Engineer

 

Mr. Colecchia joins RPCS from AZTEC Engineering Group, where he was previously a structural engineer.

As Senior Structural Engineer, Mario Colecchia will provide structural engineering assessments, calculations and stamped designs to comply with applicable codes, as well as manage and oversee engagement with geotechnical firms to gather needed field level data and generate geotechnical studies.

Working closely with the RPCS sales team, project managers, and field crews, Mr. Colecchia’s role in analyzing geotechnical reports or onsite issues related to foundations will help identify solutions and keep projects running smoothly. Mr. Colecchia will help contribute to the overall strategic initiatives of the company to help RPCS continue to maintain its reputation for quality and as an innovative, solution-oriented design-build installation company.

Mario Colecchia is a Professional Structural Engineer with over 20 years of experience designing a variety of structures including highway bridges, retaining walls, overhead sign structures, and PV trackers and foundations. For several years before joining RPCS, he worked as a consultant designing foundations for hundreds of RPCS projects. In total, Mr. Colecchia has worked designing and engineering hundreds of RPCS projects, as well as leading projects across the country.

Mr. Colecchia earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree from Princeton University in 1992 and his Master of Science degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1994. He is accomplished in the application and interpretation of the AASHTO/ACI/AISC/IBC/NDS design codes and local agency design guidelines. Although most of the projects he has worked on are in the United States, he has international experience as well, including in Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, and the Middle East.

Mr. Colecchia is a former Adjunct Professor of Structures at Essex County College where he taught an introductory class in steel, concrete, and timber design emphasizing LRFD to sophomore-level college students. In addition to giving lectures, his responsibilities included developing the curriculum, preparing lessons, and creating exams. He currently teaches the Structures session of a review course for engineers preparing to sit for the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. His teaching experience began at Princeton University where, as a teaching assistant, he led a class that introduced engineering concepts to liberal arts students and reviewed papers for publication.

“After several years of working with RPCS as a consultant, it’s great to be able to join the team I most enjoyed serving,” Mr. Colecchia says. “I hope to continue to provide RPCS and their customers the results they’ve come to expect. I am excited to focus entirely on RPCS’s customers!”

 

 

RP Construction Services, Inc. designs and builds ground mount solar projects. With over 360 projects and more than 1GW completed or under construction throughout the United States, RPCS provides full turnkey service and support for solar tracker projects, including site layout optimization, ancillary engineering services, tracker supply, foundation post procurement, and complete mechanical installation. For more information about RPCS, please visit rpcs.com or call us at 831.620.2188.

 

2019 In Review

Posted on by Bri Bruce

For RPCS, 2019 has been a banner year.

The California-based solar project design and installation firm completed well over half a gigawatt in 2019 alone—an increase of more than 200% over 2018—and more than 200 projects in 19 different states. To date, RPCS has completed over one gigawatt of projects in 32 different states and Canada.

At the center of their accomplishments this year, RPCS successfully tripled its workforce, welcoming new staff members to help the company expand further into new regions and focus on building larger projects. The hiring of new staff required attention to training and development efforts to allow RPCS to grow safely, without compromising the company’s stellar reputation for quality.

“Employees are the most important asset in our organization,” says RPCS Executive Vice President of Operations Brendan Teague. “That’s why we believe in investing in their safety and development, both of which are foundational to continuing our success in the solar industry.”

RPCS expects the team to continue to evolve, innovate, and refine in the coming year as their pipeline for 2020 takes shape.

Earlier in the year, RPCS began offering customers a stocking services option with the opening of two locations in California and Texas, an endeavor that has already proved advantageous since its initiation in January. Bringing stocking operations in-house gives RPCS added levels of predictability, efficiency, and reliability to their business operations. RPCS is able to control the delivery schedule and material accuracy, eliminating schedule impacts as well as overall inefficiencies.

RPCS concurrently implemented their Safe Harbor strategy to help project developers, financers, and owners take advantage of the highest possible solar investment tax credit rate for projects built in the coming years. Their strategy allows customers to realize savings and maximize ROI by both purchasing materials directly from RPCS as well as storing them safely and cost effectively in RPCS’s storage facilities to serve projects nationwide—safeguarding project pipelines prior to the stepdown of the ITC to 26% beginning in 2020.

 

Among other notable achievements was the company’s recognition as a Top Solar Contractor for the second year in a row by Solar Power World Magazine, the industry’s leading resource for news and information regarding solar PV installation, development, and technology. RPCS achieved a rank of No. 15 overall out of 415 solar companies, moving up on the list from No. 18 the previous year. RPCS holds the reigning position in the state of Georgia at No. 1, in addition to being ranked the No. 15 Utility Contractor, the No. 4 Installation Subcontractor, and the No. 11 Contractor in their home state of California.

RPCS celebrated their landmark year by giving back, increasing involvement in charitable initiatives, namely helping fundraise for eReaders for the solar-powered SEGA Girls School in Tanzania, Africa, and donating to the efforts of the Youth Sports Alliance in support of RPCS Sales Director Jay Miles, whose daughter fights Leukemia with the help of the organization’s Utah chapter.

 

“This is such a great time to be part of RPCS,” says RPCS Chief Sales Officer Alex Smith, reflecting on the year’s successes. “We’ve been adding top talent to our team, building larger and more exciting projects, and we continue to innovate and improve the way companies design and build their single axis tracker projects. We’re very lucky to have such a strong team and a brilliant CEO leading the way.”

 

RPCS’s 2020 forecast is bright, with a number of projects scheduled to begin in early 2020, continuing their momentum and putting the company on schedule for another prolific year ahead.

RPCS Ranks No. 15 on the 2019 Top Solar Contractors List

Posted on by Bri Bruce
top solar contractors list rpcs
RPCS ranks No. 15 overall on this year’s Top Solar Contractors List from Solar Power World.
Solar Power World today released their annual Top Solar Contractors list, recognizing California-based solar firm RP Construction Services, Inc.’s installation efforts. RPCS achieved a rank of No. 15 overall, out of 415 solar companies, with a reigning position in the state of Georgia at No. 1. In addition, RPCS is ranked No. 15 Utility Contractor, the No. 4 Installation Subcontractor, and No. 11 Contractor in their home state of California.

 

The Top Solar Contractors list is developed by Solar Power World to recognize the work completed by solar contractors across the United States. Produced annually, the Top Solar Contractors list celebrates the achievements of U.S. solar developers, subcontractors and installers within the utility, commercial and residential markets, and ranks contractors by kilowatts installed in the previous year.

“Solar Power World enjoys assembling the Top Solar Contractors list each year, and our 2019 edition features hundreds of companies making big impacts in local energy markets,” said Kelly Pickerel, editor in chief of Solar Power World. “Solar power is becoming competitive with traditional electricity sources in more markets, and cities and states are demanding more renewable energy options. It’s a great time to be a solar installer, and we’re happy to highlight the best installation companies in the country on our list.”

The U.S. solar market is expected to see 14% growth in 2019, with over 12 GW of new solar power added to the grid this year—enough to power 2.28 million average American homes. This increase in installations is attributed in part to a rush to get projects in before the 30% federal investment tax credit steps down to 26% next year.

To prepare for the stepdown, RPCS announced several weeks ago their Safe Harbor strategy that will allow project developers, financers, and owners to take advantage of the highest possible ITC rate for projects built in 2019 and in the coming years. Customers can realize savings by both purchasing solar tracker materials from RPCS and storing them safely and cost effectively in RPCS’s two tracker storage facilities, located in California and Texas, to serve projects nationwide.

Headquartered in Monterey, California, RPCS employs over 100 team members, providing leading design, engineering, and installation services for projects throughout the United States. Since 2014, RPCS has completed over 360 projects and nearly 1GW, with 262MW and 103 projects completed in 2018 alone, earning them a spot at No. 18 on the 2018 Top Contractor’s list.

“Thank you, team. This honor is yours,” expresses RPCS CEO and Founder Eben Russell. “You solve problems, you follow through, you give your all, you support your coworkers, our customers, and our vendors. You are constantly improving and innovating. It’s a blessing for me to work with you each day.”

With renewable energy expected to be the fastest growing source of U.S. electricity generation for at least the next two years, RPCS is proud to continue their contribution to the country’s energy mix.

 

About RP Construction Services, Inc.
RPCS designs and builds ground mount solar projects. With over 360 projects and nearly 1GW completed or under construction throughout the United States, RPCS provides full turnkey service and support for the industry’s most bankable and reliable tracker, the Array Technologies DuraTrack® HZ v3 single-axis tracker, including site layout optimization, ancillary engineering services, tracker supply, foundation post procurement, and complete mechanical installation. For more information about RPCS, please visit rpcs.com.

About Solar Power World
Solar Power World is the leading online and print resource for news and information regarding solar installation, development and technology. Since 2011, SPW has helped U.S. solar contractors — including installers, developers and EPCs in all markets — grow their businesses and do their jobs better.

2018 in Review

Posted on by Bri Bruce

For RPCS, 2018 was an incredible year—and we think that’s worth celebrating.

 

This has been a year of incredible growth. RPCS saw the completion of 210 megawatts and 82 projects in 2018, the most in any year of RPCS’s history. In just a few years, RPCS has completed over 550 MW and 260 projects in 27 different states, including a 28MW project in California, a 28MW project in Hawaii, and 57MW site in South Carolina.

For the first time, RPCS broke into the Canadian solar market, completing a site in Ontario this past fall. With a robust solar market emerging from locations like Canada and Minnesota (RPCS completed 20 projects in Minnesota this year), it is becoming increasingly clear that the economics are in favor of trackers—even in the northernmost locales and in the most challenging conditions. We’re always eager to prove the advantages of ground mount solar trackers projects and to further solidify that trackers can be used in many more locations than people expect.

After market hold up in 2017 and early 2018 due to uncertainty surrounding tariffs, RPCS successfully grew its pipeline for 2019, 2020, and 2021 projects. RPCS had a busy year working with portfolio companies, and we’re seeing developers and EPCs lock in their projects much earlier given the high demand that everyone is expecting in the coming year. Many interesting projects are slated to start in early 2019, putting RPCS on schedule for an even more robust year ahead.

RPCS welcomed new staff members to help the company expand further into new regions, while increasing involvement in co-op marketing initiatives and garnering media attention. Three notable achievements this year was the company’s recognition as a Top Solar Contractor  ranking number 18 overall, a Project of the Year nominee for a noteworthy project in California built at an old Chevron refinery, and the company’s recognition as a Top 10 Renewable Energy Services Company, awarded by Energy CIO Insights Magazine.

Nearing the close of our strongest year yet, we are confident in the strength of RPCS in the coming years given our current growth rate in an otherwise dampened market—one that is forecasted to improve significantly as a whole.

As we look forward into 2019 and beyond, we are as committed as ever to advancing the growth of solar energy.

City of Atkinson, Nebraska, Partners with GenPro Energy Solutions, RPCS, and TerraSmart to Build Innovative Solar Array on Former Fill Site

Posted on by Bri Bruce
genpro rpcs
City of Atkinson site in November 2018, nearing completion.

MONTEREY, Calif. January 8th, 2018—RPCS is pleased to announce their partnership with GenPro Energy Solutions and the City of Atkinson to build a 209kW solar array in Nebraska.

The city formerly used the Atkinson-owned site for fill, a place where soil, trees, and debris were brought then covered with dirt. Because of the nature of the site, project construction initially saw particular challenges. With embedment depths up to 30 feet—three times the norm—needed for proper installation of the foundation, using longer than normal I-beams would have added significant costs for construction and material. Moreover, loose soil and debris could cause refusal of the post for a regular piledriver.

The City of Atkinson wanted a tracked system that could provide enough energy to offset the energy consumption of their Water Treatment Plant. Through NPPD’s Buy-Sell Solar Rider, Atkinson can create long-term cash flow for the city through the production of solar energy.

Project developer GenPro Energy Solutions, who specializes in municipal solar development throughout the Midwest, brings design and custom energy solution integration expertise to the project while RPCS helped drive a creative solution to a complex engineering issue.

The site features DuraTrack HZ v3 single-axis solar trackers by Array Technologies, supplied by RPCS, Array’s DG partner. Array’s mounting technology keeps the modules following the sun on its course throughout the day, ensuring up to a 20 to 25% increase in energy production over fixed-tilt systems. RPCS designs and installs Array tracker systems throughout the country, with hundreds of projects completed to date in the utility and distributed generation markets.

plug-n-play solar tracker
The site features RPCS’s Plug-N-Play solar tracker system for above-ground wire management.

The project uses TerraSmart‘s innovative ground screw foundation posts, a seamless solution to the challenging nature of the site’s subsurface conditions. TerraSmart’s ground screws have a better ability to resist uplift than I-beams in loose soil and can drill into debris, reducing upfront construction costs and eliminating subsurface risks.

“This project is a great example of how teamwork, engineering, and innovative solutions can help overcome site challenges and result in the most efficient design for all parties involved. GenPro’s value engineering, Array’s superior grade tolerance, and TerraSmart’s unique foundation posts all allowed for a system that will maximize power production for the City of Atkinson,” says RPCS Sales Director Dylan Wraga. “There were underground challenges that TerraSmart’s solution was well suited to, and combined with Array’s reliable architecture this system will be producing clean power for many years to come.”

“It is exciting to come up with a unique solution for a site that has an ideal location in relation to the facility we’re looking to power,” says Molly Brown, GenPro’s VP of Energy Production. “The ability to use Array trackers with TerraSmart ground screws will allow us to maximize production on what would normally be considered a difficult site. It’s a very exciting project to be a part of.”

A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place this week onsite on January 10th at 10am.

 

 

RP Construction Services (RPCS) designs and builds ground mount solar projects using the industry’s gold standard for quality, the Array Technologies DuraTrack® HZ v3 single-axis tracker. With over 550 MW and over 250 projects completed or under construction throughout the United States, RPCS provides full turnkey service and support for the industry’s most bankable and reliable tracker. RPCS’s expert knowledge of Array Technologies’ trackers ensures world-class turnkey project assistance including site layout optimization, ancillary engineering services, tracker and foundation procurement, and complete mechanical installation. The team at RPCS provides reliable support at every step of the project, delivering a level of quality and efficiency that parallels Array’s market reputation. For more information about RPCS, please visit rpcs.com or call us at 831.620.2188.

GenPro Energy Solutions is the unparalleled choice for solar development and EPC services in Nebraska. From project concept through construction, our NABCEP certified team supports you through every stage of your project. GenPro has served the Nebraska market since 2007 and recently expanded their offices and warehouse to Central City, Nebraska. GenPro has earned their reputation for expert, reliable services and providing the highest quality of craftsmanship in Nebraska and nationwide. GenPro was founded in 2003 in Rapid City. Since day one, GenPro always strived to exemplify the core principles of integrity and best-in-class service. With GenPro’s rapid growth, new talent from inside and outside the industry sector was added to address the ever-changing energy market needs.